Berry Creek man gets 10 years prison for 2010 shooting

OROVILLE — A 29-year-old man was sentenced to an agreed-to 10 years in state prison for shooting a woman in the arm in 2010.

Stephen James Hensley was given the stipulated upper-term sentence Thursday in Butte County Superior Court for felony counts of corporal injury to a cohabitant and assault with a deadly weapon. The sentence also includes enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury, according to deputy district attorney Elizabeth Norton.

During the incident on Sept. 11, 2010, Hensley reportedly said he thought the woman was lying and wanted to see what his pistol had to say. Norton said Hensley shot the woman in her lower left arm, which destroyed the function of that arm.

The victim wasn't cooperative at the time, but came forward last February after counseling and consideration. She told officials she was terrified of Hensley. The woman also recounted an incident two weeks before the shooting where Hensley reportedly struck her. She fell to the floor, but struck some furniture leading to her losing consciousness.

Hensley had faced 12 additional charges, but they were dismissed when he changed his plea Sept. 13.

Norton said the prosecution agreed to the resolution because of difficulties in trying the two-year-old case and to spare the witness from having to testify.

Hensley was given nearly nine months of custody credits. Because of the great bodily injury enhancement, he must serve 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole. Norton added that the two felonies are strikes under the state's three-strikes law.